Tips for Working Mothers
Thursday, October 5th, 2006By Mimi Rothschild
This recent State blurb reminded me of how many of today’s homeschool moms have chosen to homeschool while holding down full-time jobs. The unfortunate reality is that many parents are unable to make ends meet with just one bread-winner in the household. The structure of our economy has strained families such that mothers have experienced pressure to enter the workplace. Many of these brave and faithful mothers have chosen to homeschool their children despite the difficult circumstances. Here are some helpful tips for frazzled moms (and dads):
Pray pray pray!: Obviously, God will never throw anything your way that you can’t handle. Faith can move mountains and help educate your children.
Work with your supervisor: He or she might not budge, but it is most definitely worth a try to try to gain some leeway. Maybe you can come in an hour late and stay an hour late or have an extended lunch break to check on the kids. Perhaps you can even telecommute for part of the day. As technology increases, an increasing amount of employees are working from a home office.
Homeschool on weekends/nights: Flexibility is one of the greatest aspects of homeschooling. There’s no reason your homeschoolers can’t do their lessons while you are there to help.
Enroll in a co-op: Most cities and even small towns have a network of homeschool parents that meet for educational purposes in co-ops. You’re not in this alone. Enlist the help of other mothers. Parents can take turns teaching larger groups of children in a classroom setting. Feel free to check out The MorningStar Academy Co-op Program to learn more.
Hire a part-time tutor: When you can’t be there to teach, why not hire someone who can? You’d be surprised how eager college students are. Tutoring will give them experience with teaching as well as some extra spending money. In return, you get peace of mind, knowing that your homeschoolers are getting the help they need.
Enroll in online courses: Understandably, many of the parents who homeschool with The MorningStar Academy are either single or working mothers. Our online academy provides a way for students to be taught without constant parental supervision. Our teachers are on call throughout the day for help with coursework. This is an ideal solution for busy parents who wish to give their children a great education but can’t always be at home.